2023 was another banner year for animation. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best animation on the big screen this year.
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00:00 "Miles! Miles! Got a minute?"
00:04 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best
00:09 animation on the big screen in 2023. "Something, something, something?"
00:14 "We win."
00:16 Number 10. Leo. When fifth graders start taking home their class pet for the weekend,
00:23 it seems like a recipe for disaster. But trust us, Leo is the best homework you could ask for.
00:29 "What? She likes me. She thought I was fun."
00:32 "You? Fun? What'd you do? Turn your head more than once? Oh, what a showman!"
00:36 For one, he's a talking Tuatara. Secondly, he's downright hilarious.
00:42 Then again, what else do you expect from the creative mind of Adam Sandler?
00:46 "Oh, wow." "Really? Like, wow, that's crazy?"
00:50 "No, more like wow. I didn't think you were that self-aware."
00:54 In fact, Sandler's fingerprints are all over this film. Outside of voicing Leo,
00:59 he also co-wrote the script and produced the film through his own company,
01:03 Happy Madison Productions. The unified vision behind the scenes ensures that Leo is sweet,
01:08 charming, and surprisingly poignant to the very end. Plus, where else will you get to
01:13 see a Tuatara sing? "And you'll be happy."
01:23 Number 9. The Super Mario Bros. Movie. For all their enduring appeal, Mario games
01:29 aren't traditionally remembered for their stories. Yet, somehow, Illumination Entertainment turned
01:34 that thin lore into the definition of a crowd-pleaser. "Yes! That's my best friend!"
01:39 "Mario! Mario! Mario!" "Yeah, yeah."
01:46 The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a bright, energetic experience that's fun for the whole family,
01:51 whether you're a series veteran or not. That's not to say there's nothing for diehards, though.
01:55 On the contrary, Mario Bros. is packed with so many clever references and Easter eggs that
02:00 it's practically impossible to catch them all. "Come on, Luigi! Up those legs!"
02:04 "I'm trying! I'm trying! I think I've gotten these!"
02:07 Basically, everyone can love the Mario movie. And we do mean everyone. The film ended its
02:13 theatrical run as one of the highest-grossing animated movies ever made. Those kinds of numbers
02:19 don't lie. "Wahoo! Mario, you were amazing! Ha ha ha!" "Thanks, Dad." "Oh, bring it in!"
02:28 8. Wish To commemorate the studio's 100th anniversary,
02:35 Disney went back to their bread and butter. An original story, a lovable princess,
02:40 and plenty of rousing musical numbers. The result is Wish. "Okay, you can't beat. I mean,
02:47 I know I wished on a but no. Yes?" Without giving too much away, the movie features a
02:55 girl named Asha discovering the true meaning of the phrase, "Be careful what you wish for."
02:59 It sounds heavy, but don't worry, it still has all the soul,
03:03 humor, and wit that Disney Animation is known for. Not to mention the music.
03:07 "So I make this wish to have something more for us than this."
03:15 While Wish may not quite clear the high bar left by previous Disney princesses,
03:22 Asha's story is still definitely worth a watch. No shooting stars required.
03:26 "You know you're a work of art, even in the deepest dark. If you really wanna know just who you are."
03:33 "I'm a star!"
03:35 Number 7. Elemental. Love is in the air, but when you're a sentient fireball and he's a
03:41 living drop of water, that love looks a little steamier than most. Hey, opposites attract, right?
03:47 "I knew it! My nose always knows!"
03:50 Admittedly, the underlying themes in Elemental aren't as deep or subtle as some of Pixar's best,
03:55 but it's hard to care when the world feels so alive.
03:58 "You and I, we go together. You're the sky, I'll be the weather. A pretty thing, the sun and rain."
04:05 This is some of Pixar's most impressive animation to date, and from a studio with their track
04:13 record, that's saying something. Still, it's the characters that really hold it all together,
04:19 and thankfully Elemental has more heart than it knows what to do with.
04:22 So do Ember and Wade for that matter.
04:25 "Are you sure about this one?"
04:27 "I'm sure."
04:28 Number 6. Chicken Run - Dawn of the Nugget
04:31 "Welcome to the future."
04:34 Whether they're fried, grilled, plucked, or still clucking, these chickens are always an
04:40 uproariously good time. But now they're facing their biggest foe yet, the dreaded chicken nugget.
04:45 Yeah, the joke's practically right themselves.
04:47 "It's go time."
04:48 "It's alright. I went before we left."
04:53 It's been over 20 years since Ginger and her flock first pecked their way onto screens,
04:57 and somehow their poultry-laden commentary hasn't gone cold yet.
05:01 If anything, it's more relevant than ever before.
05:04 Actually, you could say that about everything in this film. From the animation to the punchlines,
05:09 Dawn of the Nugget is a loving homage to the thoughtful storytelling that made Chicken Run
05:13 special in the first place. And you can't ask for anything better than that.
05:17 "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
05:19 "I was hashed ready."
05:21 Number 5. Suzume
05:23 As if your name didn't break our hearts enough, this year, writer-director Makoto Shinkai returned
05:29 to the big screen to cause even more waterworks. Although to him, that's probably a compliment.
05:34 "I could never forget. I promise, I'll come save you."
05:37 Released in Japan at the end of 2022, the 2023 international debut of Suzume gave us
05:43 an emotionally engrossing experience that deserves to be seen for itself. And with lots of tissues.
05:49 "Eyes closed. Feel all the emotion that should be here. Listen to the past. Hear their voices."
05:56 Like the rest of Shinkai's work, part of the fun is discovering the story alongside the characters.
06:02 The only thing we'll tease is that Suzume might be the only movie in all of existence to make
06:06 us emotional over a chair. If that doesn't prove Shinkai's talent, we don't know what will.
06:11 "Suzume, I like you. Lots."
06:14 Number 4. Nimona
06:19 "How did I get here?"
06:20 "Oh, I dragged you for like seven miles."
06:23 "What happened?"
06:24 "Your head bounced on the sidewalk a few times."
06:26 "It's all so foggy."
06:28 In hindsight, it's amazing this movie ever saw the light of day. It was announced,
06:33 delayed, cancelled, revived, and released on Netflix all within the span of a few years.
06:38 But boy was it worth the hassle.
06:40 "Who has four thumbs and is great at distractions."
06:45 "Fine, but dial it down. Something inconspicuous and discreet like... and she's gone."
06:50 Following the exploits of its namesake shapeshifter,
06:53 Nimona is a moving tale of acceptance and prejudice wrapped inside a thrilling fantasy
06:57 adventure. It's funny, it's smart, it's action-packed, and above all, it's just plain
07:03 entertaining. That's all without even mentioning the movie's groundbreaking portrayal of LGBTQIA+
07:08 characters and animation. Couple that with the tenacity it took just to see the film released,
07:13 and it's obvious that Nimona is something special.
07:16 "You wanna show 'em?"
07:17 "I'd love to."
07:18 "Let's break stuff."
07:19 Number three. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem.
07:25 The turtles in a half shell are back and better than ever. But fair warning,
07:30 you'll come for Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo and end up staying for the laughs.
07:35 "Look, we all think humans are cool, but we got a job to do."
07:38 "Let's go."
07:39 "Hey, I'm the leader of the crewio."
07:42 "You sound like you have bronchitis."
07:43 Despite a mature storyline about the realities of experimentation,
07:47 Mutant Mayhem is easily one of the funniest outings the turtles have ever had. That's
07:52 partly because of its wickedly clever script, and partly because of its scene-stealing voice cast.
07:57 "Wait, what's our last name?"
07:59 "I don't- I've never thought about that, actually."
08:01 "Do we not have last names?"
08:02 "Oh, who are we?"
08:04 "It's- it's okay."
08:04 What's more, the radical new animation style amps the action up to a whole other level, too.
08:10 As a whole package, there's just too many positives to list,
08:13 to the point that many cite Mutant Mayhem as the best Turtles movie ever.
08:17 "We've prepared our whole lives for this."
08:18 "We've never actually been in a fight before, and I don't know if you noticed,
08:21 but all I've got is a big stick. How did I end up with a big stick?"
08:24 "Maybe we defused this sensual laughter."
08:26 "You're not funny enough for that, dude."
08:27 "Stop talking! I dream about fighting every night."
08:29 "You've got a rage problem, right?"
08:31 "It's not a problem!"
08:32 Cowabunga, indeed.
08:34 Number 2. The Boy and the Heron
08:37 A new movie from Studio Ghibli basically sells itself.
08:41 Throw in Hayao Miyazaki,
08:42 and it's no surprise that The Boy and the Heron is must-watch material.
08:46 "Be a mother. She's awaiting your rescue. I'll be your guide."
08:52 Given the already sky-high expectations,
08:57 "mastery" doesn't feel like a good enough word to describe the impassioned places this movie goes,
09:02 or how gorgeous it looks while doing it.
09:04 "An old master dispenses with tools and dispenses with flourishes.
09:10 They stop trying to impress, and they do sort of a simple but beautiful gesture with the brush,
09:16 and that's what it felt like."
09:18 As you'd expect from Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron is a visual tour de force
09:22 that's equal parts beautiful and unsettling.
09:24 But the most impressive part is how distinctly fresh it feels.
09:28 The Boy and the Heron is unlike anything Miyazaki or Ghibli has done before,
09:32 and that's precisely why it's one of their greats.
09:35 "You see this world? There's more work to be done."
09:41 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:45 Ruby Gilman, Teenage Kraken.
09:47 Who knew Kraken's could make for such a heartwarming movie?
09:50 "Kraken, Canadian or otherwise, we'll always love you, Roots."
09:53 "Squad solidarity?"
09:56 "Squad solidarity!"
09:59 Trolls Band Together.
10:01 Another Trolls film, another amazing soundtrack.
10:04 [Music]
10:12 The Monkey King.
10:14 This one's worth a watch for its breathtaking fight scenes alone.
10:17 "Yeah, monkey!"
10:18 "Like I care!"
10:19 "Don't give up now! You're doing great!"
10:23 Ladybug and Cat Noir, The Movie.
10:26 Boasting more style than ever before, this is an adventure worth a feature-length runtime.
10:31 "How do you manage to annoy me so much?"
10:33 "I really should go home now."
10:46 Paw Patrol, The Mighty Movie.
10:49 It's hard to go wrong with superhero pups.
10:52 "Only one of you has power!
10:55 You're no match for me!"
10:56 "We're a team.
11:00 When you go up against one of us, you go up against all of us."
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11:20 Number 1.
11:21 Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse.
11:23 It's not every day you get to see a classic born right before your eyes,
11:27 but that's how it feels to watch Across The Spider-Verse.
11:30 "This is unbelievable."
11:32 "This is the lobby of..."
11:33 "Welcome to Spider Society."
11:37 This movie is head and shoulders above any other superhero story right now,
11:42 and all it takes is one passing glance to see why.
11:45 Literally.
11:46 The innovative animation is nothing short of stunning.
11:50 Still, this is Spider-Verse we're talking about, and it's nothing without Miles Morales.
11:54 "Catching all sorts of bad guys."
11:56 "Can't you just act like a regular supervillain so I can catch you?"
12:01 He may not be the one and only Spider-Man anymore,
12:06 but his coming-of-age heroics elevate the movie into something else.
12:10 Well, that and the action, the emotional heft, the supporting cast, we could go on.
12:16 So when's the next movie again?
12:17 "Everyone keeps telling me how my story is supposed to go."
12:21 "Nah, I'm gonna do my own thing."
12:25 What was your favorite animated movie of the year?
12:28 Let us know if it made our list in the comments below.
12:30 "Cute! Hey, you wanna stay?"
12:34 "Stay."
12:35 Do you agree with our picks?
12:37 Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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12:45 [music]